Container



JONES CONTAINER Aug. 22, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct 20, 1965INVENTOR. Jae Manes ATTOR/ VZ'Y Aug. 22, 1967 J. JONE S 3,337,115

CONTAINER Filed Oct. 20, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 74 v I i i I ,4 TTOR/VEUnited States Patent 3,337,115 CONTAINER Joe Jones, Memphis, Tenn.,assignor to St. Joe Paper Company, Jacksonville, Fla., a corporation ofFlorida Filed Oct. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 498,674 8 Claims. (Cl. 22939) Thisinvention relates to improvements in containers, and more particularlyconcerns a container typically formed of corrugated fiberboard or thelike specifically adapted to be used for packing, transporting andstoring shirts or other garments of wear and specifically constructed toprovide a self-locking bottom and top.

A general object of this invention is to provide an improved container.

Another general object of the subject invention is the provision of animproved collapsible container having a self-locking bottom and top.

A particular object of the subject invention is to provide an improvedcontainer for packaging garments which are to be transported and/orstored.

Another particular object of this invention is to provide an integral,prescored and precut blank for folding into a collapsible container forshipment thereof; and in use, being readily erectable into a containerfor garments.

A specific object of the invention is to provide an integral pre-scoredand pre-cut blank for folding into a garment container having aself-locking bottom and top, which may be shipped fiat and readilyerected, assembled, and knocked-down for storage and later reusethereof.

A further specific object of the subject invention is to provide animproved container, a number of which may be readily stacked one on thenext in a square, even and level manner.

Yet another specific object of this invention is to provide an improvedcontainer having flaps forming a selflocking bottom and self-lockingtop, the bottom and top of which are essentially planar and flat afterfolding of such flaps.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of thisinvention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its organization and method ofoperation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, maybest be understood by reference to the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the integral pre-scored and pre-cut blank inaccordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial top perspective exterior view of the container,folded and erected from the blank of FIG. 1, with one of the top flapsshown in closed position;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view similar to FIG. 2 with three of the topflaps in closed positions;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the container showing the top flaps, as thefourth top flap is being manipulated into closed position;

FIG. 5 is a partial top perspective exterior view of the assembledcontainer with all of the top flaps in their closed and lockedpositions;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the locked top of theassembled container taken along line 66 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a plurality of the containers of thisinvention stacked one upon another.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is provided an integralpre-scored and pre-cut blank 10, cut from a substantially rectangularsheet of single walled corrugated fiberboard with a minimum of wastethereof. The broken lines 12 generally indicate crease lines scored onthe blank 10, while the full lines 14 generally indicate fold lines orhinge lines scored on the blank 10. In accordance with this invention,integral blank 10 comprises a top portion 16, a body portion 18, andbottom portion 20, similar to the top portion 16; all portions beingmore particularly described hereinbelow.

Body portion 18 includes four wall panels 22, 24, 26, and 28; side wallpanel 24 being connected to end wall panel 22 by wall angle fold line30, and end wall panel 26 being connected to side wall panel 24 by wallangle fold line 32, and side wall panel 28 being connected to end wallpanel 26 by wall angle fold line 34. Additionally connected to end wallpanel 22 by wall angle fold line 36 is a flap or panel 38 adapted to beglued or otherwise connected to side wall panel 28 to form and maintainblank 10 in a collapsed container condition. Wall angle fold lines 30,32, 34 and 36 are substantially parallel one to another. Wall panel 22has a pair of side edges 40 and 42; wall panel 24 has a pair of sideedges 44 and 46; wall panel 26 has a pair of side edges 48 and 50; andside wall panel 28 has a pair of side edges 52 and 54; all of the panelside edges 40 through 54 being substantially parallel to wall angle foldlines 30 through 36.

Attached to end Wall panel 22 by fold line 56 along its upper edge 58 isan end top panel 62; the top panel 62 being connected along its loweredge 60 to wall panel 22 by fold line 56. Connected to side wall panel24 by fold line 64 along its upper edge 66 is a side top panel 68, whichpanel 68 is joined to wall panel 24 along this top panels lower edge 70.Another end top panel 72, which is similar to panel 62, is connected towall panel 26 along fold line 74, fold line 74 being creased in theblank along the upper edge 76 of wall panel 26 and the lower edge 78 oftop panel 72. Attached to side wall panel 28 by fold line 80 along theupper edge 82 of panel 28 is an additional side top panel 84, which isconnected along its lower edge 86 to panel 28. Fold lines 64 and 80which extend respectively between side Wall panel 24 and side top panel60 and side wall panel 28 and side top panel 84 are substantiallyperpendicular to fold lines 30 through 36. Top panels 62, 68, 72 and 84comprise the top portion 16 of the container blank 10.

The bottom portion 20 of container blank 10 comprises bottom panels 88,90, 92 and 94, which bottom panels are respectively similar to top panel62, 68, 72 and 84. End bottom panel 88 is connected to the lower edge 960f wall panel 22 by fold line 98, which fold line is adjacent the upperedge 100 of bottom panel 88. Attached to the lower edge 102 of wallpanel 24 and by fold line 104 is a side bottom panel 90; the fold line104 being adjacent the upper edge 106 of bottom panel 90. The fold line104 is substantially perpendicular to wall angle fold lines 30 through36. Connected to side wall panel 26 along fold line 108 and adjacent thelower edge 110 of this wall panel 26 is end bottom panel 92, whichadjoins fold line 108 along its upper edge 112. An additional sidebottom panel 94 is connected to side wall panel 28 along fold line 114.This fold line 114 is substantially perpendicular to wall angle foldlines 30 through 36 and is adjacent to the lower edge 116 of wall panel28 and the upper edge 118 of bottom panel 94.

In accordance with this invention fold lines 56 and 98 are scored in theblank in positions which are not perpendicular to wall angle fold lines30 and 36, and are not parallel one to another. These fold lines 56 and98 are at a slight angle to each other and to fold lines 64 and 104respectively, such that they converge toward each other from fold line30 to fold line 36. In other words, fold line 30 is of greater length ordimension than fold line 36; the dimension of fold line 36 being suchthat its length when added to approximately twice the thickness of thecorrugated fiberboard from which blank 10 is cut, equals the dimensionallength of fold line 30. Side wall panel 26 is identical in dimension toside wall panel 22. That is, the dimension of fold line 32 is greaterthan the dimension of fold line 34 by twice the thickness of thecorrugated fiberboard. Therefore, of body portion 18, side wall panels24 and 26 are rectangular in shape, while end wall panels 22 and 26 aretrapezoidal in shape, as will be explained more fully hereinafter.

Side edges 120 and 122 of top panel 68 and side edges 124 and 126 ofbottom panel 98 are tapered slightly inwardly from the lower attachededge 70 to upper free edge 128 of top panel 68 and from the upperattached edge 160 to lower free edge 130 of bottom panel 90. The lengthor dimension of upper free edge 128 and lower free edge 13% is slightlyless than the dimension of lower attached edge 70 and upper attachededge 186. Tapering of these top and bottom panels 68 and 90 assures thatpanel 38, and particularly upper edge 128 thereof and panel 90,particularly lower edge 130 thereof, may be easily folded inward intothe containing space proper within the box perimeter once the blank hasbeen erected into the shape of a rectangular box having 90 wall anglesbetween its upstanding walls.

Top panel 84 is provided with, adjacent its upper edge 132, two tabs orflaps 134 and 135, which when the top of the formed container is closedwill engage together with upper edge 132 under top panel 68 adjacent itsupper edge 128 such as to lock the top of the container in a closedposition. Similar tabs or flaps 138 and 140 are provided adjacent thelower edge 142 of bottom panel 94, which will together with lower edge142, when the bottom of the former container is closed, engage underbottom panel 90 adjacent its lower edge 130 such as to lock the bottomof the container in a closed position.

Top portion 16 of the blank 10 is provided with dust tongues or tabs 150and 152 on top side panel 84, 154 Within top end panel 72, and 156 ontop end panel 62. The dust tabs 158, 152, 154 and 156, when the top ofthe container is closed, will effectively prevent dirt from entering theinterior of the contained and soiling the garments such as shirts,blouses, or the like which have been packaged, shipped, and/ or storedtherein. These dust tabs also aid in forming and maintaining proper andmore rigid corners, and enable the container to maintain a substantiallyfiat planer surface when the same has been set up and the top thereofmanipulated into its closed position. Similar dust tabs are provided inthe bottom portion 20 of the blank 10 at 158, 160, 162 and 164.

Crease lines 166 and 168 are provided within top side panel 68 andsimilar crease lines 170 and 172 are respectively provided in top endpanels 62 and 72. These crease lines 166, 168, 178 and 172 are providedin the top panels to square up the box by making the top, when closed,more planar, i.e., the folded top panels tend to be in a less thickplane than if no such crease lines are provided. By providing thesecrease lines the top of the container, when it is in the closedposition, is able romaintain a flat surface onto which another containermay be effectively stacked, as hereinafter more fully described inconnection with FIG. 7. Additionally, the crease lines provide for theeasier opening and closing of the container top; and as the container isintended to be reused a number of times, prevent damage to thecorrugated fiberboard material, such as by ripping or tearing at thevarious bending areas and other areas of contact of the top panels, whenthe same are opened and closed repeatedly during the continued use ofthe container. Similar crease lines 174, 176, 178 and 180 are providedin the bottom panels of the container blank 18 for the same reasons asset forth with respect to crease lines 166, 168, 170 and 172 in the toppanels.

The dimensional lengths of upper edge 132 of top panel 84 and the loweredge 142 of bottom panel 94 are greater, respectively, than thedimensional length of upper edge 128 of top panel 68 between where thecrease lines 166 and 168 intersect this edge 128, and lower edge 136 ofbottom panel where crease lines 17 1 and 176 intersect this edge 138,such that when the top and bottom of the container are properly foldedand closed these edges 132 and 142 are maintained in an engaged andlocked position underneath top panel 68 and bottom panel 98respectively.

To form the container blank 10 into a collapsed container, blank 10 isfirst folded upwardly along fold line 32 and along fold line 36. Flap 38is then positioned adjacent the inside of wall panel 28 such that foldline 36 and sideedge 54 of wall panel 28 are closely parallel. The flap38 is secured to the inside of Wall panel 28 by any of a number ofsuitable means, such as by stapling or gluing and a collapsed containeris formed as known in the art. The container is normally fabricated tothis collapsed condition and then shipped to the location where it is tobe used and/ or stored until it is desired to put the container intouse, at which time the collapsed container is erected into its usableform.

To set up or erect the collapsed container into a usable container theprocedure shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 is followed for securing eitherthe top or bottom of the container in a closed position, and for thepurpose of clarity only, the manipulation of the top panels will bedescribed. As depicted in FIG. 2 the blank 10, having previously beenfolded inward along fold lines 32 and 36 to form a collapsed container,is now squared up by directing forces inwardly adjacent fold lines 32and 36 such that the container has the side and end wall panelsupstanding with 90 wall angles between adjacent wall panels to form acontainer having a rectangular crosssection. The next step is thesecuring of the self-locking bottom, although securing of the top of thecontainer will be described by folding inwardly of the box perimeteralong fold line 64, side top panel 68 to a position as shown in FIG. 2.As the side edges and 122 are inwardly tapered, side top panel 68 willeasily and readily fold inward between end top panels 62 and 72, andbetween wall panels 22 and 26. End top panels 62 and 72 are then foldedinward of the box perimeter along respective fold lines 56 and 74, untilthey engage portions of and overlie the previously in-folded top panel62, as depicted in FIG. 3. The other side top panel 84- is folded inwardof the box perimeter along fold line 80 until it rests on and overportions of previously in-folded end top panels 62 and 72 and side toppanel 68. Then to lock and secure this self-locking top of the containerin a closed position, side top panel 84 is further depressed downwardlyand inwardly of the container from the horizontal such that edge 132 ispositioned out of contact with the portion of side top panel 68 adjacentits edge 128, and edge 132 and tabs 134 and 136 become positionedbeneath the upper edge 128 of top panel 68 as shown in FIG. 4. Duringthe further depressing or inward folding of top panel 84, crease lines178 on top panel 62, 172 on top panel 72, and 166 and 168 on top panel68 bend downwardly slightly to permit the depressing of top panel 84beyond the upper edge 128 of top panel 68 to be accomplished withoutdamaging the corrugated fiberboard material. To complete the securing orthe locking of the top closure of the container, the downward pressurewhich has been applied to top panel 84 is released and panel 84resiliently moves back toward the horizontal position such that itslocking edge 132 together with tabs 134 and 136 are secured and retainedunderneath top panel 68, as depicted in FIG. 5. There is thus formed acontainer with a top closure secured in the closed position which has arelatively level and horizontal flat surface.

Once one end of the box has been secured or locked in a closed position,such as the top as seen in FIG. 5, the box may be packed with clothingsuch as shirts, blouses or the like, or any other articles desired to bepackaged therein. When the packing of the container is completed theother end thereof, be it top or bottom, is secured and locked in theclosed position in a manner identical to that shown and described inconnection with FIGS. 2-5.

To open the top of the container, once the same has been secured in aclosed position, a slight downward pressure is exerted on inward foldedside top panel 68 along its upper edge 128. This slight depressing ofside top panel 68 releases the upper edge 132 and tabs 134 and 136 astop panel 84 from their engaged position underneath this panel '68, suchthat top panel 84 pops-up above panel 68 and the remainder of thecontainer top is easily opened by unfolding top panels 62, 72 and 69.The container bottom is readily opened in a like manner.

A cross-section through the box top is shown in FIG. 6 which depicts theupper edge 132 of side top panel 84 and tab 136 retained under side toppanel 68 adjacent its upper edge-128. A portion of end top panel 62 ispositioned above top panel 68 while the other portion of the end toppanel 62 is positioned below top panel 84, which panel is provided withthe locking edge and tabs. Additionally, as can be seen in FIGS. 5 and6, the corners 182, 184, 186 and 190 of the box top are all in the samehorizontal plane and are all at the same level. The corners of thecontainer bottom are also all in the same horizontal plane and at thesame level. This feature of the container, i.e., all four corners of thetop and bottom when closed being planar, makes it possible for thesecontainers to be stacked and stored in a square and even order, such asdepicted in FIG. 7. The stacking capabilities of the containers isattained by fabricating the container blanks such that the end wallpanels 22 and 26 are trapezoidal in form as explained hereinabove. Thatis, the fold lines 30 and 32 of respective wall panels 22 and 26 are ofa dimensional length which is greater than fold lines 36 and 34 of wallpanels 22 and 26 by an amount equal to twice the thickness of thecorrugated fiberboard material from which the container is fabricated.If the end wall panels 22 and 26 of the container of this invention werenot trapezoidal in shape, neither the four corners of the top nor thebottom of the container would lie in a horizontal plane, nor would thefour corners of the top or bottom all be at the same height; therefore,it would be impossible to stack these containers one on top of anotherin a square and even order. When the container is folded and erected foruse and after packing thereof, all-four corners of the box bottom or topwill be level and at the same height, and the dimensional length of foldlines 34 and 36 plus the additional dimensional thickness of infoldedside top panel 84 and the additionaldimensional thickness of infoldedside botom panel 94 will equal the dimensional length of fold lines 30and 32, such that all four corners of the container top or bottom lie inthe same horizontal plane and at the same height or level to permit thecontainers to be stacked in a square and even order as depicted in FIG.7.

While only a certain preferred embodiment of this invention has beenshown and described by way of illustration, many modifications willoccur to those skilled in the art and it is, therefore desired that itbe understood that it is intended in the appended claims to cover allsuch modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of thisinvention.

What is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by LettersPatent of the United States is:

1. An integral rectangular blank of corrugated fiberboard for foldinginto a container having a self-locking top and bottom comprising incombination a top portion, a body portion, and a bottom portion, saidbody portion including two end wall panels and two side wall panels,adjacent wall panels being joined by wall angle fold lines, each of saidwall panels having an upper edge, a lower edge, and side edges adjacentrespective said wall angle fold lines, said top portion including fourtop panels having lower edges connected by fold lines to respective saidwall panel upper edges, said bottom portion including four bottom panelshaving upper edges connected by fold lines to respective said wall panellower edges, said top panels and bottom panels being adapted to befolded to form a self-locking top and bottom respectively, said two endwall panels of said body portion being trapezoidal in shape with saidside edges of each said end wall panel being parallel, one said sideedge of each said end wall panel being of a dimensional length equal tothe dimensional length of the other said side edge of said end wallpanel and twice the thickness dimension of said corrugated fiberboard,said two side wall'panels of said body portion being rectangular inshape with each of said side edges thereof being of a dimensional lengthintermediate the dimensional lengths of the side edges of said end wallpanels such that when said top and bottom portions of said container arelocked in closed position the upper exposed surfaces of said top panelsclosely adjacent the corners of the closed top are in the samehorizontal plane and the lower exposed surfaces of said bottom panelsclosely adjacent the corners of the closed bottom are in the samehorizontal plane.

2; An integral blank formed of corrugated fiberboard for folding into arectangular container having a selflocking top and bottom comprising incombination a top portion, a body portion, and a bottom portion, saidbody portion including two end wall panels, two side wall panels andwall angle fold lines between adjacent wall panels, each of said wallpanels having an upper edge and lower edge, said top portion includingtwo end top panels and two side top panels each of said top panelshaving lower edges connected by fold lines to respective said wall panelupper edges, said bottom portion including two end bottom panels and twoside bottom panels, each of said bottom panels having upper edgesconnected by fold lines to respective said wall panel lower edges, oneside panel of each said top and bottom panels having an edge portion forengagement beneath an edge portion of an oppositely disposed top andbottom side panel whereby said top and bottom portions may be locked inclosed position, said end panels of said top portion having an outerfree edge, said outer free edge extending from one side edge of eachsaid end panel horizontally and substantially parallel to said loweredge of each said top end panels to a first point adjacent the mid-pointof said outer free edge, said outer free edge extending from said firstpoint generally vertically downwardly and inwardly of said each endpanel and generally parallel to said side edge to a second point spaceda first distance from said lower edge, said outer free edge extendingfrom said second point angularly downwardly and outwardly to a thirdpoint spaced a second distance from said lower edge, said third pointbeing more closely adjacent said lower edge than said second point, saidouter free edge extending from said third point downwardly and outwardlyto a fourth point closely adjacent said lower edge and the other sideedge of said end panel, said outer free edge between said third andfourth points defining the outer edge of a dust tab for inhibiting theingress of dust into the container, said edge portion of said one sidepanel of said top portion having an outer free edge, said outer freeedge being formed of a central portion substantially horizontal andparallel to said lower edge of said one top side panel, said outer freeedge extending angularly inwardly and downwardly from said centralportion to a first pair of points spaced a first distance from saidlower edge, said outer free edge extending from said first pointsangularly outwardly and downwardly to a second pair of points spaced asecond distance from said lower edge with said second distance beingless than said first distance, said outer free edge extending from saidsecond points outwardly and downwardly to a third pair of points closelyadjacent respective ends of said lower edge of said one top side panel,said outer free edge between said respective second and third pointsdefining the outer edge of a pair of dust tabs closely adjacent saidends of said lower edge of said one top side panel for inhibiting theingress of dust into said container, said end panels of said top portionbeing provided with a crease line on their 1nward surfaces thereofextending from said lower dg of each said top end panel closely adjacentsaid one i edge to said second point of each said top end panel, saidoppositely disposed top side panel being provided with a pair of creaselines on its inward surface respectively extending from each side edgeof said top side panel closely adjacent said lower edge and convergingupwardly and inwardly toward the mid-section of and intersecting withthe upper free edge of said top side panel whereby when said top panelsare folded into closed interleaved positions said top panels lie in arelatively thin plane,

3. A rectangular container formed from corrugated fiberboard having apredetermined thickness dimension comprising a self-locking top portion,a body portion, and a self-locking bottom portion, said body portionincluding two vertical upstanding side wall panels and two verticalupstanding end wall panels, adjacent wall panels being joined by wallangle fold lines, each of said wall panels having an upper edge, a loweredge, and side edges adjacent respective said wall angle fold lines,said top portion including two side top panels having lower edgesconnected by fold lines to respective said two side Wall panel upperedges, said top portion further including two end top panels havinglower edges connected by fold lines to respective said two end wallpanel upper edges, said bottom portion including two side bottom panelshaving upper edges connected by fold lines to respective said two sidewall panel lower edges said bottom portion further including two endbottom panels having upper edges connected by fold lines to respectivesaid two end wall panel lower edges, said top panels and bottom panelsbeing adapted to be folded and interleaved to form a self-locking topand bottom respectively, said two end wall panels of said body portionbeing trapezoidal in shape with said side edges of each said end wallpanel being parallel, one said side edge of each said end wall panelbeing of a dimensional length equal to the dimensional length of theother said side edge of said end wall panel and twice the thicknessdimension of said corrugated fiberboard, said two side wall panels ofsaid body portion being rectangular in shape with each of said id edgesthereof being of a dimensional length intermediate the dimensionallengths of the side edges of said end W ll panels such that when saidtop and bottom portions of said container are locked in closed positionthe upper eX- posed surfaces of said top panels closely adjacent thecorners of the closed top are in the same horizontal plane and the lowerexposed surfaces of said bottom panels closely adjacent the corners ofthe closed bottom are in the same horizontal plane whereby thecontainers may be stacked in a square and even order.

4. A rectangular container formed from corrugated fiberboard comprisinga body portion having two vertical upstanding side wall panels and twovertical upstanding end wall panels, connected one to the next by wallangle fold lines, each of said wall panels having an upper edge and alower edge, a bottom portion including a plurality of panelsrespectively connected to said wall panel lower edges, a self-lockingtop portion having two end top panels and two side top panels, each ofsaid top panels having lower edges connected by fold lines to respectivesaid wall panel upper edges, one side panel of said top panels having anedge portion for engagement benath an edge portion of the other andoppositely disposed top side panel with said end panels of said topportion partially underlying said one side panel of said top portionwhereby said top portion may be locked in closed position, each said endpanel of said top portion having an outer free edge, said outer freeedge extending from one side edge of each said end panel, adjacent saidone side panel, horizontally and substantially parallel to said loweredge of each said top end panel to a first point adjacent 8 themid-point of said outer free edge, said outer free edge extending fromsaid first point inwardly of said each end panel and generally parallelto said one side edge to a second point spaced a first distance fromsaid lower edge, said outer free edge extending from said second pointangularly and outwardly to a third point spaced a second distance fromsaid lower edge, said third point being more closely adjacent said loweredge than said second point, said outer free edge extending from saidthird point outwardly to a fourth point closely adjacent said lower edgeand the other side edge of each said end panel, said outer free edgebetween said third and fourth points defining the extremity of a dusttab for inhibiting the ingress of dust into said container, said edgeportion of said one side panel of said top portion having an outer freeedge, said outer free edge being formed of a central portionsubstantially horizontal and parallel to said lower edge of said one topside panel, said outer free edge extending angularly inwardly from saidcentral portion to a first pair of points spaced a first distance fromsaid lower edge, said outer free edge extending from said first pointsangularly outwardly to a second pair of points spaced a second distancefrom said lower edge with said second distance being less than saidfirst distance, said outer free edge extending from said second pointsoutwardly to a third pair of points closely adjacent respective ends ofsaid lower edge of said one top side panel, said outer free edgebegtween said respective second and third points defining the extremityof a pair of dust tabs closely adjacent said ends of said lower edge ofsaid one top side panel for inhibiting the ingress of dust into saidcontainer, said top portion end panels each being provided with a creaseline on the inward surface thereof extending from said lower edge ofeach said top end panel closely adjacent said one,

side edge to said second point of each said top end panel, said otheroppositely disposed top side panel being provided with a pair of creaselines on its inward surface respectively extending from each side edgeof said top side panel closely adjacent said lower edge and converginginwardly toward the mid-section of and intersecting with the upper freeedge of said top side panel whereby when said top panels are folded intoclosed interleaved positions said top panels lie in a relatively thinplane.

5. An integral rectangular blank of corrugated fiberboard for foldinginto a container having a top portion, a body portion and a bottomportion, said body portion including two end walls and two rectangularside walls, adjacent walls being joined by wall angle fold lines, eachof said walls having an upper edge, a lower edge and side edges adjacentrespective said wall angle fold lines, one said top and bottom portionincluding four panels having edges connected by fold lines to respectiveside walls, said panels being adapted to be folded to form aself-locking portion, said two end walls of said body portion beingtrapezoidal in shape with said side edges of each said end walls beingparallel, one said side edge of each said end wall extending outwardlyand terminating beyond the connection with respective said side wall adistance equal substantially to the thickness dimension of saidcorrugated fiberboard adjacent said self-locking portion, the other saidside edge of each said end wall terminating inwardly of the connectionwith respective said side wall a distance equal substantially to thethickness dimension of said corrugated fiberboard adjacent saidself-locking portion, said one edge of each said end wall beingconnected to one said side wall, said self-locking portion of thecontainer when locked in closed position having the exposed surfacesthereof closely adjacent the corners of the closed self-locking portionin the same horizontal plane.

6. A rectangular container formed from corrugated fiberboard having apredetermined thickness dimension comprising a top portion, a bodyportion, and a bottom portion, said body portion including two verticalupstanding and rectangular side walls and two vertical upstanding endwalls, adjacent walls being joined by wall angle fold lines, each ofsaid walls having an upper edge, a lower edge, and side edges adjacentrespective said wall angle fold lines, one of said top and bottomportions including two side panels having lower edges connected by foldlines to respective said two side Wall upper edges, said one portionfurther including two end panels having lower edges connected by foldlines to respective said two end wall upper edges, said panels beingadapted to be folded and interleaved to form a self-locking portion,said two end walls of said body portion being trapezoidal in shape withsaid side edges of each said end wall being parallel, one said side edgeof each said end wall extending outwardly and terminating beyond theconnection with respective said side Wall a distance equal substantiallyto the thickness dimension of said fiberboard adjacent said self-lockingportion, the other said side edges of each said end wall terminatinginwardly of the connection with respective said side wall a distanceequal substantially to the thickness dimension of said corrugatedfiberboard adjacent said self-locking portion, said one edge of eachsaid end wall being connected to one said side wall, said selflockingportion of the container when locked in closed position having theexposed surfaces thereof closely adjacent the corners of the closedself-locking portion in the same horizontal plane.

7. The integral blank as defined in claim wherein said four panels ofsaid self-locking portion include two end panels and two side panels,said end panels and side panels of said self-locking portion having apair of side edges and a free edge spaced from the edge connected tosaid respective walls, said end panels being provided with a crease linefrom their inner surfaces thereof eX- tending from said connecting edgeand spaced closely adjacent one side edge to a point on said free edgegenerally midway between said side edges of each said end panel, onesaid side panel of said self-locking portion being provided with a pairof crease lines on its inner surface respectively extending from eachside edge of said one panel closely adjacent its connecting edge andconverging upwardly and inwardly toward the midsection of andintersecting with the upper free edge thereof whereby when said panelsare folded into closed interleaved positions said panels lie in arelatively thin plane.

8. The rectangular container as defined in claim 6 wherein each of saidside and end panels of said selflocking portion has a pair of side edgesand a free edge spaced from the edge connected to said respective walls,said end panels being provided with a crease line on their inwardsurfaces thereof extending from said connecting edge and spaced closelyadjacent one side edge to a point on said free edge generally midwaybetween said side edges of each said end panel, one said side panel ofsaid self-locking portion being provided with a pair of crease lines onits inward surface respectively extending from each side edge of saidone panel closely adjacent its connecting edge and converging upwardlyand inwardly toward the mid-section of and intersecting with the upperfree edge thereof whereby when said panels are folded into closedinterleaved positions said panels lie in a relatively thin plane.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 917,347 4/ 1909 Neumann 229222,306,328 12/ 1942 Biberthaler 22939 2,337,039 12/ 1943 Gardner 229292,670,128 2/1954 StoWitts 229-38 2,675,166 4/1954 Main 22938 2,757,8538/1956 Main 22939 JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,337,115 August 22, 1967 Joe Jones It is hereby certified that errorappears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that thesaid Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2 line 53, for "adjoins" read ajoins column 3, line 31 for"former" read formed line 39 for "contained" read container column 5line 11 for the numeral "69" read 68 column 7 line 65 for "benath" readbeneath column 8 line 28 for "begtween" read between Signed and sealedthis 2nd day of July 1968 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer

1. AN INTEGRAL RECTANGULAR BLANK OF CORRUGATED FIBERBOARD FOR FOLDINGINTO A CONTAINER HAVING A SELF-LOCKING TOP AND BOTTOM COMPRISING INCOMBINATION A TOP PORTION, A BODY PORTION, AND A BOTTOM PORTION, SAIDBODY PORTION INCLUDING TWO END WALL PANELS AND TWO SIDE WALL PANELS,ADJACENT WALL PANELS BEING JOINED BY WALL ANGLE FOLD LINES, EACH OF SAIDWALL PANELS HAVING AN UPPER EDGE, A LOWER EDGE, AND SIDE EDGES ADJACENTRESPECTIVE SAID WALL ANGLE FOLD LINES, SAID TOP PORTION INCLUDING FOURTOP PANELS HAVING LOWER EDGES CONNECTED BY FOLD LINES TO RESPECTIVE SAIDWALL PANEL UPPER EDGES, SAID BOTTOM PORTION INCLUDING FOUR BOTTOM PANELSHAVING UPPER EDGES CONNECTED BY FOLD LINES TO RESPECTIVE SAID WALL PANELLOWER EDGES, SAID TOP PANELS AND BOTTOM PANELS BEING ADAPTED TO BEFOLDED TO FORM A SELF-LOCKING TOP AND BOTTOM RESPECTIVELY, SAID TWO ENDWALL PANELS OF SAID BODY PORTION BEING TRAPEZOIDAL IN SHAPE WITH SAIDSIDE EDGES OF EACH SAID END WALL PANEL BEING PARALLEL, ONE SAID SIDEEDGE OF EACH SAID END WALL PANEL BEING OF A DIMENSIONAL LENGTH EQUAL TOTHE DIMENSIONAL LENGTH OF THE OTHER SAID SIDE EDGE OF SAID END WALLPANEL AND TWICE THE THICKNESS DIMENSION OF SAID CORRUGATED FIBERBOARD,SAID TWO SIDE WALL PANELS OF SAID BODY PORTION BEING RECTANGULAR INSHAPE WITH EACH OF SAID SIDE EDGES THEREOF BEING OF A DIMENSIONAL LENGTHINTERMEDIATE THE DIMENSIONAL LENGTHS OF THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID END WALLPANELS SUCH THAT WHEN SAID TOP AND BOTTOM PORTIONS OF SAID CONTAINER ARELOCKED IN CLOSED POSITION THE UPPER EXPOSED SURFACES OF SAID TOP PANELSCLOSELY ADJACENT THE CORNERS OF THE CLOSED TOP ARE IN THE SAMEHORIZONTAL PLANE AND THE LOWER EXPOSED SURFACES OF SAID BOTTOM PANELSCLOSELY ADJACENT THE CORNERS OF THE CLOSED BOTTOM ARE IN THE SAMEHORIZONTAL PLANE.